Another reason Masons give for believing Freemasonry is not a religion is their claim that Freemasonry has no theology. But is this true? A definition of theology ("theos"=God + "legein"=to speak) is "to speak of God." Masonry speaks of God, demands belief in God, instructs each candidate how to worship God, informs each candidate that the true name of God has been lost, and then in a later degree reveals that lost name.
    For example, Masonry clearly teaches theology during the Royal Arch degree (York Rite), when it tells each candidate that the lost name for God will not be revealed to them. The name that is given is Jahbulon. This is a composite term joining Jehovah with two pagan gods-the evil Canaanite deity Baal (Jeremiah 19:5; Judges 3:7; 10:6), and the Egyptian god Osiris. This equating of God with false gods is something the God of the Bible strictly forbids. "You shall have no other gods before me...You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God..." (Exodus 20:3,5); "You shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations" (Deuteronomy 18:9); "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you-majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" (Exodus 15:11 NIV).
    The Oxford American Dictionary defines theology as "a system of religion." Webster defines theology as "the study of God and the relations between God and the universe...A specific form or system...as expounded by a particular religion or denomination." Masonry fulfills these definitions of theology. As we have seen, it has its own specific system and form of belief which clearly spells out exactly how the Masonic candidate is to perform his ceremonies before God. In the Lodge, this theological instruction is known as the Masonic Ritual.
    As Joseph Fort Newton said, "Everything in Masonry has reference to God, implies God, speaks of God, points and leads to God. Not a degree, not a symbol, not an obligation, not a lecture, not a charge but finds its meaning and derives its beauty from Good, the Great Architect, in whose temple all Masons are workmen." Anyone who says the Masonic Lodge does not teach theology is uninformed or just plain lying.

John Ankerberg & John Weldon